Local nonprofit Arts on Main has been growing Gloucester’s creative scene since 2011. The lovingly renovated turn-of-the-century downtown car dealership now holds 4,000 square feet of gallery and classroom space where artists from around the region come to showcase their work and hone their respective crafts.
Visitors can peruse monthly themed exhibitions and the work of dozens of acclaimed regional artists. Each launches with a First Friday open house party and may include everything from functional or decorative ceramics to watercolor paintings, brass sculpture, handwoven clothing, wood carvings, and fine jewelry. Artist-focused educational programming includes an array of events, workshops, and classes ranging from special lectures to mural collaborations, mixed-media collage, charcoal drawing, and beadmaking. There’s also a full lineup of options for kids, adult beginners, intermediates, and seniors.
Featured image courtesy of Arts on Main. This article originally appeared in the Best of Virginia 2026 issue.
